MS Saga Sapphire

MS Saga Sapphire

Capacity
706
pers

Crew
560
pers

Taille
199.63
m

Tonnage
37301

Category
Premium

Saga Holidays announced their newest acquisition will be named SAGA SAPPHIRE. The inaugural voyage for the 37,301 gross ton vessel will take place on March 26, 2012. At present, the ship is sailing under the Royal Caribbean-owned Croisieres de France banner as the BLEU DE FRANCE.

Under Saga, the ship will join fleetmates SAGA RUBY and SAGA PEARL II in catering to the over 50 age group with comfortable small-to-mid-sized ships. The 655 foot long SAGA SAPPHIRE will carry 750 passengers or less. When built as Hapag-Lloyd’s EUROPA in 1981, this ship was among the most spacious luxury cruisers in the world with a capacity of only 600 guests in extremely large staterooms. It was one of the first vessels constructed at the start of a building boom that continues to this day.

In 1999, the German line sold the ship to Star Cruises where it first became the SUPERSTAR EUROPE and was followed a few months later by another renaming to SUPERSTAR ARIES. Star Cruises really had no idea what to do with this ship, which did not fit well with its rapidly changing fleet. By 2001, they had announced SUPERSTAR ARIES would transfer to their Orient Line division, joining the MARCO POLO and CROWN ODYSSEY on expedition cruises but that never took place. Instead, it was sold to Spanish-based Pullmantur in 2004, becoming the HOLIDAY DREAM. In 2008, it became BLEU DE FRANCE when CDF decided to tap the burgeoning French market.

Under Saga Holidays, the ship should once again be operated by a company that can run the former EUROPA in a style befitting the more luxurious role for which it was intended — cruising to ports throughout the world.

MS Saga Sapphire

Following a multimillion pound refurbishment, Saga Sapphire will set sail on her inaugural cruise from Southampton in March 2012 with Captain McLundie at the helm. She will be more spacious & with much bigger cabins with lots more new features. Saga Sapphire passengers tend to be 50-60+ and mainly British. When all cabins have double occupancy, the ship provides a space ratio of 52.8 tons per passenger and a crew to passenger ratio of one for every 1.3 passengers. At full capacity the space ratio is 52.8 tons per passenger and the crew ratio is one to 1.3 passengers.

Size

Medium

Rating

Built

1982

Refit

2012

Tonnage

37301

Passengers (Min/Max)

706/706

Crew

560

Officers

British

CABINS

Total

374

Cabins are reasonably spacious and are well equipped with VCR, minibar, fridge, safe and good sound insulation. Bathrooms have deep bathtubs or large showers. There is a small room service menu.

Balcony

6

Ocean View

312

Inside

56

Single

0

Cabin Details

FITNESS & LEISURE

Pools Out/In

2/1

Outdoor deck space for sunbathing is excellent and one of the 2 outdoor pools has a magradome. The indoor pool is quite large. It also features beauty salon, hydro therapy, sauna, spa bar, solariums and a fitness centre.

Jacuzzis

0

Fitness Centre

Yes

Sauna

Yes

Steam Room

No

Deck Space

Good

RESTAURANTS

The Grand restaurant is spacious with picture windows and on one side offers an a la carte Chinese menu (extra cost). Informal buffets are offered at the outdoor Clipper Terrace.

Main Dining Rooms

1

Sittings

2

Non Smoking

No

Alternative Dining

1

ENTERTAINMENT

The Show Lounge is single level and sight lines can be poor but two casinos and gambling are a primary entertainment on this ship as well as karaoke and various other public rooms.

Show Lounges

1

Cinema

No

Library

Yes

Casino

Yes

DRESS CODE

Casual and comfortable during the day. In the evening dress is semi formal (jacket and tie for gentlemen and casual elegance for ladies). Formal evenings require a dark suit or dinner jacket for men and a cocktail dress for ladies.

TIPPING

All tips (including porterage at airport and port) are within the price.

DISABLED

Wheelchair cabins

1

Wheelchair access is acceptable.

Lifts

4

CHILDREN

The rating for children is Unsuitable. This is an older ship so facilities for disabled passengers are few. There are no special arrangements for children, apart from a playroom, although they are welcome.

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